How to start teaching yoga in a big city?
If you’ve just completed your yoga teacher training (YTTC) and wondering how to actually start teaching yoga once back in Zurich, guess what? You’re not alone. This year, I’ve received many requests asking for advice. So I decided to share a glimpse my own experience with the hope to inspire you to go for it and try! And I am sure that my advice is replicable in other big cities too.
After talking to many freshly baked yoga teachers, one common theme is that most new yoga teachers feel a mix of excitement and uncertainty, fuelled by the classic imposter syndrome. Believing the market is saturated. Thinking they aren’t ready. What follows is exactly what I tell them when they ask me for advice (or list all the reasons they haven’t started teaching yet 😅). These are some of the elements that helped me start my teaching journey.
Rahel Zuber (2023)
Call things by their name… including yourself!
Get comfortable saying it out loud: “I’m a yoga teacher.” Hear me out, it sounds simple, you might wonder why and how is that relevant but trust me, it changes everything.
When I just finished my first yoga teacher training, I was still employed in a company and always said “I teach yoga on the side”. I never actually said out loud: “I’m a yoga teacher.” I found it hard to say those words. It felt too bold, like I hadn’t earned it yet (do we ever though? I guess that’s a topic for another blogpost)!
Then, one day, a friend introduced me to her friends as a yoga teacher and I just went with it. A few weeks later, I got a message asking if I could lead a special corporate yoga class during a wellness week. That request came from one of the people present that evening! That experience showed me something powerful: when you start owning your role, others begin to see you in it too.
Connect with other yoga teachers and studios irl
It’s important to have yoga practitioners who know you and come to your classes, but note that building relationships within the broader yoga community is just as important. Chatting on social media with other teachers and having Insta bffs is nice. But personally, what made the difference for me was connecting with teachers and studio owners in real life. I know it takes more time, it can be intimidating too and not all doors will open, but keep showing up. Keep trying.
Many of my first corporate yoga gigs and weekly class’ opportunities came through other teachers recommending me to studios and other teachers. Sometimes all it takes is joining a class during a studio’s open day, staying for tea after, and simply saying, “I’m teaching too and I’m available to sub.”
Start where you already practice
If you completed your Yoga Teacher Training in Zurich, reach out to the studio where you did it. I’ve observed that most studios love supporting the new teachers coming out of their program. Ask about special community classes, sub lists or offering your support during workshops. Trust me, not all studios require a 500H YTTC completion to give you a sub class here and there 😊
I actually did my big YTTCs abroad. You might have too. My first experience teaching was subbing at the studio where I used to practice regularly. They already knew me, which made it easier to step into teaching. And it goes without saying that in parallel to that, my friends and family where my guinea pigs. Don’t underestimate their support on your teaching journey!
Explore karma yogi*ni opportunities
Many studios in Zurich offer karma yogi*nis opportunities, where you support with small tasks around the studio in exchange for attending weekly classes for free. How is that relevant you might wonder? It’s a beautiful way to stay close to the wider yogic community, connect with studio owners and show your work ethics. And if they need someone they might offer you a sub or teaching slot opportunity.
Personally, when I took that role, it wasn’t with the main purpose of getting a teaching opportunity down the road. I did it because I wanted to keep up my practice, widen my network and be of service in a tough moment of my herniated disc healing journey. Months later, when a slot opened up on their schedule, they offered me the position!
Remember: being ready is a myth
You’ll never have the perfect sequence, playlist and/or confidence level all gathered at once and whisper to your ear “now you’re ready”. There is neither a secret recipe to get a full teaching schedule in 7 days! You’ve heard it before but the truth is; you start, you learn, you fail, you try again, you wait, you think outside of the box and you adjust. It’s like a virtuous cycle. Because clarity doesn’t come before action. It comes from action. The more you wait the louder the Imposter Syndrome becomes. One of my favorite quotes says it best: “As you start to walk the way, the way appears.” — Rumi
Now I’m curious… What other advice have you received that worked? What’s the most surprising way you got an opportunity to teach (be it a weekly, a special, you name it)?
Ready to take the next step?
If you’re a new yoga teacher in Zurich (or anywhere!) hop on my 1:1 Yoga Teacher Program.
Be it through a short call or several sessions, I’m here to provide you with personalized support; whether you’re just starting out, looking to grow your classes, or wanting to diversify your offers. You bring your questions, challenges and goals. I bring guidance, motivation, structure and tools to support your journey.
